Kia Soul EV production expected to begin next month

Kia will be on track to launch its first electric vehicle, the Soul EV, after production is expected to begin next month in South Korea.

Initially, the Soul EV will be exclusive to its home market, but Kia will offer the all-electric crossover in Europe and select U.S. states starting in 2016. With sales targets aimed at 5,000 cars per year across the globe, Automotive News says the Soul EV will carry a 42-million won price tag, which is approximately US$39,400 before subsidies.

The Soul EV will be offered with an 81-kWh electric motor, translating to a range of anywhere between 80 and 100 miles, or 128 and 160 kilometres. The battery can be topped up in as little as 24 minutes on a fast charge, or nearly four hours on a trickle charge.